Ending Sexual Assault

No one is ever to blame for being sexually assaulted. All survivors deserve compassion and support. Help us build a society that challenges victim-blaming and recognizes the need for consent at all times.

Resources for Support

If you live in BC or Yukon and want to get connected with support in your community, call VictimLinkBC toll-free at 1-800-563-0808. This confidential service is available at all times and in many languages.

If you are deaf or hard-of-hearing, contact VictimLinkBC by text at 604-836-6381 or by TTY at 604-875-0885 (to call collect, please call the Telus Relay Service at 711).

At any time of day or night, you can also call the WAVAW Rape Crisis Centrecrisis line at 1-877-392-7583. WAVAW provides support services for survivors of sexualized violence who are of marginalized genders: cis and trans women, and Two-Spirit, trans, and/or non-binary people. WAVAW is located in Vancouver but its toll-free crisis line is available across Canada.

Our Workshops

West Coast LEAF offers workshops about consent, sexual assault, and sexual harassment, with a legal focus and a social justice lens. All workshops can be adapted to meet the needs of your group. While we usually request a $100 honorarium per workshop, we offer a sliding scale and can often waive the fee if cost is a barrier. If you are outside of Metro Vancouver, we may be able to facilitate a workshop in your community if you can cover our travel expenses. Email education@westcoastleaf.org or phone 604-684-8772 to inquire.

No Means No was designed for youth in grades 5 to 10. It introduces the topics of consent and sexual assault and includes discussion of power, gender, and stereotypes.

TrendShift is geared towards youth in grades 8 to 12. It explores what the law says about online violence and harassment, including non-consensual sharing of intimate images.

Youth in the Workplace was created for youth aged 15 and up. It explores employment rights in BC, including what the Human Rights Code says about sexual harassment on the job.

Only Yes Means Yeswas designed by and for post-secondary students but may be suitable for other groups. It critically unpacks the law of consent and sexual assault, contrasts legal and ethical understandings of consent, and explores legal and non-legal options for adults after sexual assault.

Our Ongoing Law Reform Work

Our law reform project Dismantling the Barriers to Reporting Sexual Assault is a partnership with YWCA Metro Vancouver. Learn about how we are listening to survivors and collaborating with people who work in the criminal justice system to improve the way sexual assault is handled.

Our Educational Resources

To learn about legal options, rights, and responsibilities when it comes to sexual assault and harassment, check out these resources:

Is That Legal?is youth-oriented booklet about what the law says about online harassment and abuse. It was created with support from the Law Foundation of BC and Legal Services Society and is available in English, Arabic, Spanish, Chinese Traditional, Chinese Simplified, and Punjabi.

Roads to Safetyis a legal handbook for older women fleeing violence, including sexual violence. It was developed in partnership with the Canadian Centre for Elder Law.

As a companion piece to Roads to Safety, we also have multilingual wallet cardslisting sources of support for older women fleeing violence.

The following materials are handouts used in our Only Yes Means Yes workshop:

Invest in Equality

West Coast Leaf

West Coast LEAF envisions an equal and just society for all women and people who experience gender based discrimination. In collaboration with community, we use litigation, law reform, and public legal education to make change.

Contact Us

Please note we are not a legal clinic. We do not offer legal advice or representation.